In the Land of 10,000 Lakes it’s kind of hard to avoid the water. Thousands of Minnesota families hit the lakes every summer, so we all need to be vigilant to avoid drowning accidents. The Centers for Disease Control notes that “Two children (14 years and under) die every day from drowning.” In fact, it’s the third leading cause of all deaths for children ages 1 to 4.

Thankfully, teaching your children how to swim can greatly reduce their risk of drowning. No matter what method you choose, it’s best to ensure your family’s safety by making sure everyone gets the proper swimming and water safety instruction. With a great variety of swimming classes offered throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, it’s a good bet that your little fishies could be hitting the water with confidence soon.

Como Regional Park Pool
1151 Como Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55103
(651) 489-0378

This state-of-the-art facility includes a six-lane, 25-yard long pool, waterslide and an aquatic climbing wall and is recognized for using a reduced amount of chemicals in the pool water – healthier for your child’s skin, hair, and eyes. Swim lessons here are offered through St.Paul’s Parks and Recreation Department. Como Regional Park also features family locker rooms (in addition to men’s and women’s).

Martha Burns Swimming School
160 Blake Road N.
Hopkins, MN 55343
(952) 945-0346

A competitive swimmer since age eleven, Martha Burns started her swim school in Minnetonka in 1971. Using the Martha Burns technique, which is also taught at other facilities throughout the Twin Cities area (Medina, Golden Valley and Minneapolis), instructors apply alternative approaches to instruction such as increased lesson time, mixed ages, and levels of competency and swimmers aged two and up learning without dependence upon floatation devices. By allowing siblings of varying ages and swimmers of varying levels to participate together, kids are said to experience an increase in motivation and acceleration. Check out the swim camps and scuba diving lessons too, if you get the chance.

Family Swim School
10491 165th St. W.
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 435-1898

With two locations to serve you in Eagan and Lakeville, Family Swim School’s method of instruction starts with Aquatic Awareness & Stroke Development in their Toddler and Preschool levels. Children’s classes start at 4 months old, the youngest available among our list, with parents playing an active water role during each lesson. Focusing on a theme of “Crawling before Walking,” the 30-minute lessons in each level incorporate Aquatic Pedagogical Motor Development Skills. Class sizes vary between one to four students for youth.

Aqua-Tots
2115 Cliff Road
Eagan, MN 55122
(651) 342-8221

Featuring eight swim levels (from Tadpoles to Stingrays), Aqua-Tots provides a fun and supportive environment for all children beginning at six months of age. The classes are 30-minutes long and the class times are flexible, taking busy family schedules into consideration. Aqua-Tots offers both group and private lessons to cater to your child’s experience and needs.

Foss Swim School
257 Rivertown Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 233-5777

With multiple locations, including Blaine, Woodbury, Chanhassen, St. Louis Park, and the soon-to-open St. Paul location, Foss Swim School offers a complimentary swim-level assessment to get your child started, helping you to find the best class or camp to meet your needs. Foss class sizes are small, allowing every child to receive adequate attention from its skilled instructors. “Family Fun Swim” times allow the whole family to get in on the fun.

YMCA
Multiple locations

With locations all over Minnesota to serve you, YMCA children’s classes start as young as 6 months. Classes include: Parent & Child (parent in the pool, for very young swimmers), Water Adjustment (young new swimmers or apprehensive ones), Beginner (beginning swimmers who are already comfortable in water), Intermediate/Advanced (swimmers work on stroke refinement and advanced skills).

Minnesota Parks and Recreation
Multiple Locations

Minnesota Parks and Recreation offers swimming classes June through August at Lupient Water Park, Lake Nokomis Beach, and Wirth Beach. Recreation Fee Assistance is available for those who qualify, based on economic needs. The program features four different levels of achievement, beginning at age 1, allowing children to climb the ranks, while building their water skills. They can even take a class to become a Jr. Lifeguard, learning basic American Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR, and First Aid for the professional rescuer.

Learning to swim can be lots of fun, building water confidence and skills – best of all, by enrolling your child early, you can decrease their risk while giving them the ability to make summer memories that last a lifetime.